Wheel drive mechanism

ABSTRACT

A wheel drive mechanism having a drive motor which is substantially shrouded and protected by a gear train casing containing a gear train through which the motor drives the wheel. The drive motor is removable and, when so removed, does not expose the inside mechanism of the gear train casing.

United States Patent 1 1 3,596,729

[72] inventors John B. Shaw [56] References Cited 1812 E. Mariette. Phoenix, Ariz. 85016; UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,055,448 9/1962 Fagel 180/10 emf-94925 3 115 204 12/1963 Dence 180/10 I I 9 906 I a I.- Q f zf 1969 3.154.164 10/1964 Shaw m1 180/44 F 9 Patented n.3, 1971 3217.826 [1/1965 Caner et al 180/66 X Primary Examiner-Benjamin Hersh Assistant Examiner-Milton L. Smith Attorney-Mellin, Moore 8L Weissenberger [54] ABSTRACT: A wheel drive mechanism having a drive motor which is substantially shrouded and protected by a gear train [52] US. Cl. 180/55 casing containing a gear train through which the motor drives [51] Int. Cl. 860k 7/00 the wheel. The drive motor is removable and. when so [50] Field 0! Seareh........ l80/66 F. removed, does not expose the inside mechanism of the gear 65.43 B. 44 E, 44 M, 10,55; 310/67 train casing.

Patented Aug. 3, 1911 3,596,729

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I O 2 I NVFNT P5 JOHN B. SHAW BY WILLIAM H. SCHWARTZ r I Q M M My L ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 3, 1971 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS JOHN B. SHAW BY WILLIAM H. SCHWARTZ W )Ka-Ww W .74 .4 ATTORNEYS FIG 3 Patented Aug. 3, 19 71 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 W QT ww m W v M ii m ON vm o 7 mm i J .i W5 31 -v ow mm .J J O Gm l W L l l l- @N ll w w 0 A Q g ms It a .w \7/ NW \P u J i liL i, U (2% c)? wv 4 g.

ATTORNEYS 20, along with plate 18 and control box 22, may then be removed, the shaft 48 uncoupling from the pinion gear 32. None of the gear train 16 is exposed to atmosphere by such removal, meaning that no foreign matter can enter the casing 14. Furthermore, the oil within the casing 14 is not interfered with, since the casing 14 remains sealed even after the motor 20 has been removed.

Obviously, the invention can be carried out in many ways, and the embodiment shown and described is merely illustrative. Therefore, we do not wish to be limited by that embodiment, but only by the following claims.

We claim:

1. in a vehicle having wheels and suspension members, a mechanism for driving a wheel thereof comprising:

a. a sealed casing received within said wheel, said casing having a fixed portion supported by a suspension member of the vehicle and a portion rotatable with respect to said fixed portion supporting said wheel;

b. a gear train which, except for a sealingly exposed single internally splined rotatable member thereof is enclosed within the sealed casing;

. said gear train and said rotatable portion of said casing being rotatable about said fixed portion of said casing to drive said wheel;

. a drive motor; and means for removably holding the drive motor relative to the suspension member and outside the casing, the drive motor having its entire body shrouded by the fixed portion of said casing when the drive motor is held relative to the suspension member. the shaft of the drive motor being externally splined to mate with said single internally splined rotatable member when the drive motor is so held, the rotational axes of said single rotatable member and drive motor shaft being each substantially aligned with the rotational axis of said wheel, whereby said single rotatable member may be rotated by said drive motor shaft when said drive motor is activated, the removal of the drive motor exposing only the single rotatable member of the gear train, and no other member thereof. 

1. In a vehicle having wheels and suspension members, a mechanism for driving a wheel thereof comprising: a. a sealed casing received within said wheel, said casing having a fixed portion supported by a suspension member of the vehicle and a portion rotatable with respect to said fixed portion supporting said wheel; b. a gear train which, except for a sealingly exposed single internally splined rotatable member thereof is enclosed within the sealed casing; c. said gear train and said rotatable portion of said casing being rotatable about said fixed portion of said casing to drive said wheel; d. a drive motor; and e. means for removably holding the drive motor relative to the suspension member and outside the casing, the drive motor having its entire body shrouded by the fixed portion of said casing when the drive motor is held relative to the suspension member, the shaft of the drive motor being externally splined to mate with said single internally splined rotatable member when the drive motor is so held, the rotational axes of said single rotatable member and drive motor shaft being each substantially aligned with the rotational axis of said wheel, whereby said single rotatable member may be rotated by said drive motor shaft when said drive motor is activated, the removal of the drive motor exposing only the single rotatable member of the gear train, and no other member thereof. 